On Thursday he was identified by police as the mastermind behind the deadly attack on Jakarta claimed by Islamic State, pulling the strings from Raqqa, the radical group's de facto capital in Syria.

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JAKARTA, INDONESIA - JANUARY 14: Indonesian policemen guard the blast site after a series of explosions hit the Indonesia capital on January 14, 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reports of explosions and gunshots in the centre of the Indonesian capital, including outside the United Nations building and in the front of the Sarinah shopping mall, an area with many luxury hotels, embassies and offices. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

Indonesian police secure the scene next to victims (C-in orange body bags) outside a traffic police outpost after a series of explosions hit central Jakarta on January 14, 2016. Gunfire and explosions in the Indonesian capital Jakarta killed at least four people on January 14 in what the country's president dubbed 'acts of terror', with fears that militants were still on the run. AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD / AFP / ROMEO GACAD (Photo credit should read ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Body bags cover victims outside a traffic police outpost after a series of explosions hit central Jakarta on January 14, 2016. Gunfire and explosions in the Indonesian capital Jakarta killed at least four people on January 14 in what the country's president dubbed 'acts of terror', with fears that militants were still on the run. AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD / AFP / ROMEO GACAD (Photo credit should read ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - JANUARY 14: Indonesian policemen guard the blast site after a series of explosions hit the Indonesia capital on January 14, 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reports of explosions and gunshots in the centre of the Indonesian capital, including outside the United Nations building and in the front of the Sarinah shopping mall, an area with many luxury hotels, embassies and offices. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - JANUARY 14: An Indonesian policeman stands guard in front of a blast site at the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reports of explosions and gunshots in the centre of the Indonesian capital, including outside the United Nations building and in the front of the Sarinah shopping mall, an area with many luxury hotels, embassies and offices. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - JANUARY 14: Indonesian policemen and ambulance arrive in front of Sarinah shopping mall after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reports of explosions and gunshots in the centre of the Indonesian capital, including outside the United Nations building and in the front of the Sarinah shopping mall, an area with many luxury hotels, embassies and offices. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - JANUARY 14: Indonesian policemen stands guard near the blast site after a series of explosions hit the Indonesia capital on January 14, 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reports of explosions and gunshots in the centre of the Indonesian capital, including outside the United Nations building and in the front of the Sarinah shopping mall, an area with many luxury hotels, embassies and offices. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - JANUARY 14: Indonesian police search for suspects after a series blasts hit the Indonesian capital on January 14, 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reports of explosions and gunshots in the centre of the Indonesian capital, including outside the United Nations building and in the front of the Sarinah shopping mall, an area with many luxury hotels, embassies and offices. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - JANUARY 14: Indonesian police search for suspects after a series blasts hit the Indonesian capital on January 14, 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reports of explosions and gunshots in the centre of the Indonesian capital, including outside the United Nations building and in the front of the Sarinah shopping mall, an area with many luxury hotels, embassies and offices. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

An Indonesian policeman fires his handgun towards suspects outside a cafe after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016. At least four people have been killed, one police officer and three civilians, after blasts on January 14 hit the Indonesian capital Jakarta, police said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

Indonesian police take position behind a vehicle as they pursue suspects after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016. A series of bombs killed at least three people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14, with shots fired outside a cafe as police moved in, an AFP journalist at the scene said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

Smoke rises after series of blasts outside a shopping centre in the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016. A series of bombs killed at least three people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14, with shots fired outside a cafe as police moved in, an AFP journalist at the scene said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

Plainclothes police aim their handguns towards suspects outside a cafe after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016. A series of bombs killed at least three people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14, with shots fired outside a cafe as police moved in, an AFP journalist at the scene said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

Indonesian police take position and aim their weapons as they pursue suspects outside a cafe after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016. A series of bombs killed at least three people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14, with shots fired outside a cafe as police moved in, an AFP journalist at the scene said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

A plainclothes policeman prepares his handgun as authorities chase the suspects after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016. A series of bombs killed at least three people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14, with shots fired outside a cafe as police moved in, an AFP journalist at the scene said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

An Indonesian policeman fires his handgun towards suspects outside a cafe after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016. A series of bombs killed at least three people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14, with shots fired outside a cafe as police moved in, an AFP journalist at the scene said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

Police chase suspects thought to be hiding at a cafe after a series of blasts hit the Indonesia capital Jakarta on January 14, 2016. A series of bombs killed at least three people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14, with shots fired outside a cafe as police moved in, an AFP journalist at the scene said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

Police (L) hide behind vehicles during an exchange of gunfire with suspects hiding near a Starbucks cafe when another blast happens in Jakarta on January 14, 2016. A series of bombs killed at least three people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on January 14, with shots fired outside a cafe as police moved in, an AFP journalist at the scene said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO / AFP / BAY ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images)

Several blasts and exchanges of heavy gunfire rock the centre of Jakarta: https://t.co/wqkMOk6pOC #9News https://t.co/mQb8Ockkq0

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In between, Naim was arrested in 2011 for illegal arms possession and jailed for three years, and police say that since then he has emerged as a key player in militant networks that have sprouted around Solo and across Central Java.

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A year ago, he left for Syria to join the frontlines of Islamic State, and police believe Naim was closely involved in coordinating Thursday's assault.

Five of the attackers and two civilians were killed in Islamic State's first strike against Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation where the group wants to establish an Asian beachhead for its "caliphate."

Reuters contacted Naim on Nov. 24 on Telegram social messaging, using details provided by one of his acquaintances. In that exchange, he said there were more than enough Islamic State supporters to "carry out an action" in Indonesia.

"Just waiting for the right trigger," the man identifying himself as Naim said.

Naim could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Intelligence experts say that, not long after that Telegram exchange, intelligence officials began to pick up talk in social messaging chatrooms that an attack on Indonesia was imminent.

"Chatter among Islamists began to become more organized last month and there were discussions for the first time of a multiple attack," said a Jakarta-based security adviser, who monitors radical group discussions on mobile messaging services for the government.

Counter-terrorism officials believe there are at least 1,000 sympathizers of the radical jihadist group across Indonesia.

That said, experts have pointed out that the relatively low death toll in the Jakarta assault suggested the involvement of local, poorly armed militants with little or no training.

In the Telegram exchange with Reuters, Naim also spoke of more mundane affairs, explaining that he enjoyed life in Syria and had no plans to return to Indonesia.

"I move around, depending on where our emir orders us to go. It's good here in Syria. There's electricity, accommodation, water and it's free. The services provided by them are good, cheaper than in Indonesia," he said.